Clare Grogan to star at music industry Oscars

BRIAN FERGUSON

EIGHTIES pop star Clare Grogan is to get a starring role at Scotland’s flagship music industry ceremony this month.

The singer and actress has been asked to perform with the latest incarnation of her band, Altered Images, at the 17th annual fundraiser for music therapy charity Nordoff-Robbins Scotland.

She will follow in the footsteps of Paolo Nutini, Biffy Clyro, Shirley Manson, Barbara Dickson, Eddi Reader, Wet Wet Wet and Big Country by performing at the Scottish Music Awards.

The annual event, which is staged at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow, honours the cream of the industry in Scotland.

Altered Images - best known for hits Happy Birthday and I Could Be Happy - broke up in 1983 after releasing just three albums.

She has been performing under the banner of Altered Images, who are now an all-female outfit, since 2002.

Glasgow-born Grogan, who is up for a special recognition award from her home city at the event, was working as a waitress in the city when she was spotted by film director Bill Forysth, who offered her one of the main roles in Gregory’s Girl.

She went on to appear in the film Comfort and Joy, also directed by Forsyth, and has had roles in TV shows like Red Dwarf, Eastenders, Skins and Father Ted.

She said: “s a teenager, growing up in Glasgow I was surrounded by people just like me forming bands and dreaming of being on Top Of The Pops.

“That was a long time ago but I shall never forget the Glaswegian traits of having a hard work ethic and a sense of humour, because it’s those traits more than anything that have helped me to maintain a career that has endured 30 years.

“I simply love being a Glaswegian and I love what I do.”

Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland uses the power of music to improve the lives of over 400 children and adults isolated by disability, trauma or illness every week. The charity needs £600,000 each year to operate.

Among those to be honoured last year were Communards singer Jimmy Somerville, indie-rock favourites Idlewild and Gaelic song standard-bearer Julie Fowlis.